Name: Dakila Torres Age: 34 years old (in 1937) Gender: Male. Occupation: peasant, works at rice farm, a member of Hukbalahap(the Huks). Appearance: Short height, curly short hair, tanned face. Location: Central Luzon. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Gentle and kindhearted, relies on his wife, cannot easily decide by himself, not very smart, hard-working. Family: Wife(Charito Torres) and one son(Ramil Torres). Education: Pretty much educated. Languages you speak: Filipino(Tagalog) and some English. Your main concerns at this time and in life: Family, wrongness of Japanese Imperialism Portrait(an image that you and we can live with):
Diary #1: December 7th, 1937
My friends told me that I am too dependent on my wife, Charito. It is quite true, and I don't think it's wrong. My Charito is brilliant, clever, wise, and those are why I married her in the first place. I learn a lot from her since she tells me the issues around the world.
Before meeting Charito, the goal of my life and the ideal of my life were rather simple. Happy farm owner. Lovely wife and children, my own farm, and abundant harvest every year were all I wanted. However, Charito had something more than these typical dreams of a normal peasant. She actually wanted the world to get better and knew how to achieve that goal. She believed all races and genders should have equal freedom and independence. Charito always told me that I should care about the changes in the world, not only the farms. I believe that she is the smartest women in Luzon.
Oh, today was a wonderful day for our family, especially for my lovely Charito. The local election was one of the events that Charito was waiting and longing for since April, when women's suffrage was allowed in Philippines. Charito always said that women rights, particularly the right to vote, were part of the steps to achieve "equal freedom and independence" for everyone. I still remember how she went around the village to tell the neighbors to vote "Yes" for women's suffrage. Everyone was persuaded by Charito because of her passionate explanations on women rights. After the women's right to vote was publicly declared, Charito looked like the happiest woman in the world. When I think of that day, I cannot resist to smile. I feel happy when she is happy.
At dinner, we ate rice wrapped in banana leaves and spicy sauced fish. I felt like our dinner tasted better than usual. I played with Ramil a lot, too. Because I have lots of work when the weather gets warm, I spend more time with him during the cold days when rices do not grow.
Completely relaxing day. Nice weather, although it is winter now. I feel like everything is going well for me and my family.
I shall work harder at my farm and later get my own farm, if I can. My ultimate goal was to be a farm owner and make my family wealthier and happier. Before going to sleep, I prayed to god about my dream. Now, my wife is having a good sleep right besides me. I should go to sleep too to wake up early tomorrow for work.
I hope I can maintain this peace for my family on and on.
Good night.
Diary #2: December 8th, 1941
Today was the worst day ever.
In the morning, there was nothing special happening. I had to go to work and Charito stayed at home, taking care of Ramil. Since the weather is cold, I took care of the farm to keep it warm that rices and other crops can grow well when the weather gets warm again. After the care, I helped my landlord by doing some simple labors. Although there are not much work to do, the weather is way too cold and those labors are quite frustrating. I miss spring and fall.
I thought today would be a normal winter day, before I read the letter from America with Charito. She often writes letter to her old friend, Leona White, in Hawaii. Leona White is a naval nurse who Charito met when she stayed in Hawaii for a month. Even though they knew each other for a short period of time, they keep in touch. Usually, Leona sends a letter with exciting events and news going on in America. Unexpectedly, letter delivered today was about a war that broke up in Pearl Harbor few days ago. She said her village was bombed by Japanese army and so many people were hurt. While reading the letter, Charito and I felt terrible. We were having a peaceful time participating in first election, but her friend on the other side of the world was suffering from war. Charito started to cry and I felt more terrible about this event.
War. Bombs. Wounded people. Deserted villages. Terrified. Hopeless.
Charito and I felt extremely mad against the Japanese army. Why would they bomb the Pearl harbor? Is there any reason for them to attack Hawaii? Why do the ordinary village people have to suffer without any reason? I definitely feel horrible about this incident. Charito fell asleep an hour ago after crying so much, but I cannot still sleep well. Today was my first time to see her crying because she is such an independent and brave woman. I hope nothing happens worse in Hawaii. Japanese army should stop their attacks whatever the reasion is. Even though Hawaii does not have close relationship with me except that Charito's friend is living there, I hope they recover soon. Hopefully, nothing should happen in Philippines, too.
I should pray for everyone, especially the suffering people in Hawaii, today. I wish everything gets better tomorrow.
But I feel like something will happen soon, unfortunately.
Good night.
Diary #3: March 29th, 1942
I am no more a farmer. I am the Huks. We, Huks, will take over Philippines to save people from Japanese army.
Lots of big events happened to me during short period of time. Japanese army marched into Philippines and it was right after I read the letter from Hawaii. Japanese invasion! I could not believe that this is happening in my homeland. I was scared about everything. At that time, Charito told me that I should be strong and brave even though she was also scared. When I went to work during this chaos, my fellow workers were talking about Hukbalahap. Because I did not know about the Huks, I asked one of them and the answer was concise. "Fight against Japan. No more Japanese power over our government." As I heard this two lines, I felt some kind of flash in my head. Should I fight against the Japanese? Is this being 'brave' and 'strong'?
When I was doubting about joining the Huks, I realized that terrible incident already has happened. My farm owner died. I sent a letter to the owner's business partner, Natalie Moline, in Vietnam. Because the owner is dead, I told her that nobody is in charge of the farm and she cannot trade rubber with this rice farm anymore. I felt like everything in Philippines is getting ruined. I also felt extremely angry about how Japanese are ruining everything near me. If Japanese are making my life suffer, I will make them suffer more. Everyone should fight against the Japanese army. Nobody should just stare at this happening.
In our meetings, the leaders made various plans. First, we are going to make more people join the group. More men and even women will help the Huks to successfully fight. Also, we will steal some weapons from the battlefields, since we cannot get any support of military devices or purchase weapons with our own money. Third, we will attack some of the rich landlords because we need some reform in the government.
I want to emphasize this again. I am no more a farmer or a peasant, but I am the member and the soldier of the Huks.
Diary #4: August 24th, 1946
Situations became harder and harder. Because Manuel Roxas proposed a plan against our Huks, we had to retreat to the jungle for the open rebellion. More surprisingly, I was almost kidnapped and killed by the Japanese Army. Although I have attacked lots of villages and people in order to overthrow the government, I never have felt this scared before. When I was panicking, the soldier who caught me was shot and I could run away. As I was running away, I looked at the soldier, Clarence King. I do not know why he saved me, but I am sure that he still has the 'humanity' in this battlefield.
This American soldier reminded me of the Japanese Imperial Army I saw before. Among the different Japanese soldiers, one soldier had a special facial expression. He looked passionate, but also quite doubtful about his army's attack on Philippines. He did not recognize me directly staring at him, but I saw his name, Sora Tatsukichi. I just wondered if he really knows the purpose of this fight. Is he just fighting because he had to? If my personal thought is right, both Clarence and Sora will have the same answer for this question. "Yes, I have no personal reason to kill people, but I just have to." These soldiers make me feel sorrowful.
I am confused about myself. I disdained the Japanese because they killed innocent people in Philippines. However, now I have done the same crime. Robberies, murders, massacre, and kidnaps. Despite of my crimes, I still disdain the Japanese. They started the fight and made me to change like them. I killed and attacked people to save the country. I believe my behaviors are right, but I cannot still erase this feeling of regret.
Everything has almost ended. If the war totally ends, Philippines will slowly come back to its original shape. However, what do the countries get from this horrible war? Glory and self-confidence? What about the Huks and myself? What did I get from various incidents in past several years? I learned how to be strong, how to be brave, and how to be cruel. Before the war, I was a gentle and kind-hearted man who relies so much on my wife, Charito. Now, my wife does not tell me any ideas about my behaviors. I was out of control and I am still out of control.
War has affected me so much. My life, personality, environment, and basically everything. My dream...is to go back to the time when I dreamt of being a happy farmer with lovely family.
I do not want to justify my behaviors as the Huks, because it was my choice to join the group. However, I still blame Japanese and every other countries involved in this war for ruining my peace and changing my personality.
Age: 34 years old (in 1937)
Gender: Male.
Occupation: peasant, works at rice farm, a member of Hukbalahap(the Huks).
Appearance: Short height, curly short hair, tanned face.
Location: Central Luzon.
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Gentle and kindhearted, relies on his wife, cannot easily decide by himself, not very smart, hard-working.
Family: Wife(Charito Torres) and one son(Ramil Torres).
Education: Pretty much educated.
Languages you speak: Filipino(Tagalog) and some English.
Your main concerns at this time and in life: Family, wrongness of Japanese Imperialism
Portrait(an image that you and we can live with):
Diary #1: December 7th, 1937
My friends told me that I am too dependent on my wife, Charito. It is quite true, and I don't think it's wrong. My Charito is brilliant, clever, wise, and those are why I married her in the first place. I learn a lot from her since she tells me the issues around the world.
Before meeting Charito, the goal of my life and the ideal of my life were rather simple. Happy farm owner. Lovely wife and children, my own farm, and abundant harvest every year were all I wanted. However, Charito had something more than these typical dreams of a normal peasant. She actually wanted the world to get better and knew how to achieve that goal. She believed all races and genders should have equal freedom and independence. Charito always told me that I should care about the changes in the world, not only the farms. I believe that she is the smartest women in Luzon.
Oh, today was a wonderful day for our family, especially for my lovely Charito. The local election was one of the events that Charito was waiting and longing for since April, when women's suffrage was allowed in Philippines. Charito always said that women rights, particularly the right to vote, were part of the steps to achieve "equal freedom and independence" for everyone. I still remember how she went around the village to tell the neighbors to vote "Yes" for women's suffrage. Everyone was persuaded by Charito because of her passionate explanations on women rights. After the women's right to vote was publicly declared, Charito looked like the happiest woman in the world. When I think of that day, I cannot resist to smile. I feel happy when she is happy.
At dinner, we ate rice wrapped in banana leaves and spicy sauced fish. I felt like our dinner tasted better than usual. I played with Ramil a lot, too. Because I have lots of work when the weather gets warm, I spend more time with him during the cold days when rices do not grow.
Completely relaxing day. Nice weather, although it is winter now. I feel like everything is going well for me and my family.
I shall work harder at my farm and later get my own farm, if I can. My ultimate goal was to be a farm owner and make my family wealthier and happier. Before going to sleep, I prayed to god about my dream. Now, my wife is having a good sleep right besides me. I should go to sleep too to wake up early tomorrow for work.
I hope I can maintain this peace for my family on and on.
Good night.
Diary #2: December 8th, 1941
Today was the worst day ever.
In the morning, there was nothing special happening. I had to go to work and Charito stayed at home, taking care of Ramil. Since the weather is cold, I took care of the farm to keep it warm that rices and other crops can grow well when the weather gets warm again. After the care, I helped my landlord by doing some simple labors. Although there are not much work to do, the weather is way too cold and those labors are quite frustrating. I miss spring and fall.
I thought today would be a normal winter day, before I read the letter from America with Charito. She often writes letter to her old friend, Leona White, in Hawaii. Leona White is a naval nurse who Charito met when she stayed in Hawaii for a month. Even though they knew each other for a short period of time, they keep in touch. Usually, Leona sends a letter with exciting events and news going on in America. Unexpectedly, letter delivered today was about a war that broke up in Pearl Harbor few days ago. She said her village was bombed by Japanese army and so many people were hurt. While reading the letter, Charito and I felt terrible. We were having a peaceful time participating in first election, but her friend on the other side of the world was suffering from war. Charito started to cry and I felt more terrible about this event.
War. Bombs. Wounded people. Deserted villages. Terrified. Hopeless.
Charito and I felt extremely mad against the Japanese army. Why would they bomb the Pearl harbor? Is there any reason for them to attack Hawaii? Why do the ordinary village people have to suffer without any reason? I definitely feel horrible about this incident. Charito fell asleep an hour ago after crying so much, but I cannot still sleep well. Today was my first time to see her crying because she is such an independent and brave woman. I hope nothing happens worse in Hawaii. Japanese army should stop their attacks whatever the reasion is. Even though Hawaii does not have close relationship with me except that Charito's friend is living there, I hope they recover soon. Hopefully, nothing should happen in Philippines, too.
I should pray for everyone, especially the suffering people in Hawaii, today. I wish everything gets better tomorrow.
But I feel like something will happen soon, unfortunately.
Good night.
Diary #3: March 29th, 1942
I am no more a farmer. I am the Huks.
We, Huks, will take over Philippines to save people from Japanese army.
Lots of big events happened to me during short period of time. Japanese army marched into Philippines and it was right after I read the letter from Hawaii. Japanese invasion! I could not believe that this is happening in my homeland. I was scared about everything. At that time, Charito told me that I should be strong and brave even though she was also scared. When I went to work during this chaos, my fellow workers were talking about Hukbalahap. Because I did not know about the Huks, I asked one of them and the answer was concise. "Fight against Japan. No more Japanese power over our government." As I heard this two lines, I felt some kind of flash in my head. Should I fight against the Japanese? Is this being 'brave' and 'strong'?
When I was doubting about joining the Huks, I realized that terrible incident already has happened. My farm owner died. I sent a letter to the owner's business partner, Natalie Moline, in Vietnam. Because the owner is dead, I told her that nobody is in charge of the farm and she cannot trade rubber with this rice farm anymore. I felt like everything in Philippines is getting ruined. I also felt extremely angry about how Japanese are ruining everything near me. If Japanese are making my life suffer, I will make them suffer more. Everyone should fight against the Japanese army. Nobody should just stare at this happening.
In our meetings, the leaders made various plans. First, we are going to make more people join the group. More men and even women will help the Huks to successfully fight. Also, we will steal some weapons from the battlefields, since we cannot get any support of military devices or purchase weapons with our own money. Third, we will attack some of the rich landlords because we need some reform in the government.
I want to emphasize this again. I am no more a farmer or a peasant, but I am the member and the soldier of the Huks.
Diary #4: August 24th, 1946
Situations became harder and harder. Because Manuel Roxas proposed a plan against our Huks, we had to retreat to the jungle for the open rebellion. More surprisingly, I was almost kidnapped and killed by the Japanese Army. Although I have attacked lots of villages and people in order to overthrow the government, I never have felt this scared before. When I was panicking, the soldier who caught me was shot and I could run away. As I was running away, I looked at the soldier, Clarence King. I do not know why he saved me, but I am sure that he still has the 'humanity' in this battlefield.
This American soldier reminded me of the Japanese Imperial Army I saw before. Among the different Japanese soldiers, one soldier had a special facial expression. He looked passionate, but also quite doubtful about his army's attack on Philippines. He did not recognize me directly staring at him, but I saw his name, Sora Tatsukichi. I just wondered if he really knows the purpose of this fight. Is he just fighting because he had to? If my personal thought is right, both Clarence and Sora will have the same answer for this question. "Yes, I have no personal reason to kill people, but I just have to." These soldiers make me feel sorrowful.
I am confused about myself. I disdained the Japanese because they killed innocent people in Philippines. However, now I have done the same crime. Robberies, murders, massacre, and kidnaps. Despite of my crimes, I still disdain the Japanese. They started the fight and made me to change like them. I killed and attacked people to save the country. I believe my behaviors are right, but I cannot still erase this feeling of regret.
Everything has almost ended. If the war totally ends, Philippines will slowly come back to its original shape. However, what do the countries get from this horrible war? Glory and self-confidence? What about the Huks and myself? What did I get from various incidents in past several years? I learned how to be strong, how to be brave, and how to be cruel. Before the war, I was a gentle and kind-hearted man who relies so much on my wife, Charito. Now, my wife does not tell me any ideas about my behaviors. I was out of control and I am still out of control.
War has affected me so much. My life, personality, environment, and basically everything. My dream...is to go back to the time when I dreamt of being a happy farmer with lovely family.
I do not want to justify my behaviors as the Huks, because it was my choice to join the group. However, I still blame Japanese and every other countries involved in this war for ruining my peace and changing my personality.